Tag: IBF

MICHAEL CONLAN has spoken of his concern for the future of amateur boxing if the sport is expelled from the 2020 Olympics.The Belfast Featherweight prospect was involved in one of Olympic boxing’s biggest ever controversies at the 2016 Rio Games.

He was tipped to win 56kg gold, but was the victim of a points defeat against Russian Vladimir Nikitin in the quarter-finals when he looked a clear winner.

Conlan famously gave a middle finger salute to AIBA judges officiating and then turned pro with American powerhouse promoters Top Rank.Conlan (9-0) is on a collision course to face Nikitin next year, but is in action at Manchester Arena on December 22 when his friend Carl Frampton challenges IBF Featherweight champion Josh Warrington, live on BT Sport Box Office.

A row has broken out over the governance of the amateur sport putting its Olympic future under threat and fears have risen after Gafur Rakhimov was elected AIBA President.Conlan, 26, said: “Boxing is en-route to being kicked out of the Olympics which is very, very unfortunate and something I would not like to see.

“I think Olympic boxing is the main reason so many boxers stay amateur. The only reason I stayed amateur for so long is because I wanted to be an Olympic champion.

“If boxing get kicked out it will be really unfortunate and you will see a lot of young amateurs turn professional.

“The only people I am sorry for is the boxers who are going to miss out on a chance to become an Olympic champion and experience that.

“I feel bad for them because they have the Olympic dream and want to be successful.

“If they can’t get a chance of going to the Olympics there is no point in staying amateur in my opinion.

”Boxing has taken place at every Olympics since 1904, apart from Stockholm eight years later because boxing was banned in Sweden.Conlan is still clinging to feint hope, adding:

“I know it doesn’t look like there will be Olympic boxing, but for some reason I think it will stay.”

IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington takes on former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena on December 22nd live on BT Sport Box Office.

JJ Metcalf will defend his WBC International super-welterweight title against Liam Williams in support of the main event, while Mark Heffron will challenge for the British middleweight title.

THE
KUDOS OF adding both Lee Selby and Carl Frampton to his win column in
2018 was the key attraction for Josh Warrington in putting his IBF world
featherweight title at such significant risk in the first defence of
his belt.

Respected champion Selby successfully defended his title five times
after winning it with the impressive stoppage of the previously unbeaten
Evgeny Gradovich in May 2015. He came unstuck against a rampant
Warrington at Elland Road in May and many in the business anticipated
the Leeds man taking on a more routine assignment on home turf next time
out.

Instead he will venture across to the Manchester Arena on December 22 to
tackle two-weight world champion – and current WBO Interim world title
holder – Carl Frampton in a BT Sport Box Office spectacular.

If he can add the name of the decorated Frampton to that of Selby it
will make for quite a year for the 27-year-old, but he points out that
it is about more than just impressive entries on his CV. Warrington
wants to prove that he is the best about at the weight in Britain at the
moment.

“That is what I’ve been saying to folk, there are not many people that do that,” he stated on his bid for a big win-double.

“There are not many fighters who go straight from one big name to another.

“Obviously it is a massive opportunity for Carl and, as I have said
before, we didn’t have to take this fight but I want to prove that I am
the best featherweight in the UK. I believe I am and the best way to
show it is to fight.

“Carl is also signed up with Frank (Warren) so the fight was easy enough to make and, as Frank says, ‘it’s on!’.”

IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington takes on
former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena
on December 22nd live on BT Sport Box Office. JJ Metcalf will defend his
WBC International super-welterweight title against Liam Williams in
support of the main event, while Mark Heffron will challenge for the
British middleweight title.

Belfast’s blue chip featherweight prospect Michael Conlan
(9-0) also features on the bill along with world flyweight title
challenger Paddy Barnes (5-1) and unbeaten Light Heavyweight contender
Steven Ward (9-0).

LEGENDARY fight promoter Bob Arum believes Josh Warrington and Carl Frampton’s blockbuster battle will live up to expectations.Warrington’s first defence of his IBF featherweight title at Manchester Arena on December 22 is tipped by many experts to be a classic battle.

Arum has a huge interest in the fight and is in talks with his friend and fellow promoter Frank Warren to match the winner against his WBO champion, Oscar Valdez next year in a unification.

Two-weight world champion Frampton (26-1) has been in brilliant form this year thrashing Nonito Donaire on points and stopping Luke Jackson.

Warrington (27-0) caused one of the biggest upsets of 2018 when he snatched his world crown from Lee Selby in May, in front of 25,000 hometown fans in Leeds.

So it’s easy to see why Arum expects the BT Sport Box Office clash to deliver for the expected 20,000 fans packed into the arena and armchair viewers.

Arum said: “We are looking forward to the Frampton-Warrington fight, which should be a real barnburner.

“Hopefully, we can match the winner with WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez in the spring or summer of 2019.”

Arum is expected to be ringside sitting alongside Warren in Manchester to see his unbeaten featherweight prospect Michael Conlan box.

Conlan (9-0) is a close to his fellow Belfast boxer, Frampton and the pair insist they will never fight each other, but he is a possible future rival for Warrington.

Arum added: ”The addition of Mick Conlan to the card makes it a very attractive presentation on ESPN+ here in the States.”

IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington takes on former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena on December 22nd live on BT Sport Box Office.

JJ Metcalf will defend his WBC International super-welterweight title against Liam Williams in support of the main event, while Mark Heffron will challenge for the British middleweight title.

Belfast’s blue chip featherweight prospect Michael Conlan (9-0) also features on the bill along with world flyweight title challenger Paddy Barnes (5-1) and unbeaten Light Heavyweight contender Steven Ward (9-0).

IT IS HARD to imagine Josh Warrington having any regrets from his epic world title-winning encounter with Lee Selby in May.

It was a night when everything clicked perfectly into place for the Leeds Warrior. From the fight being staged inside his footballing place of worship at Elland Road, to the Kaiser Chiefs playing him into the ring in front of a buoyant bumper crowd, to a dominant display that unseated a long-standing world champion.His regrets are not a few – just one – in that he didn’t go for the jugular when he had Selby on the ropes to force a stoppage.

Now the IBF world featherweight champion states that he won’t afford Carl Frampton similar leeway when the pair get it on at the Manchester Arena on December 22 in first defence of his title, live on BT Sport Box Office.

“It is going to be high octane with plenty of energy in there with two fantastic styles,” considered the 27-year-old champion, talking to BT Sport.

“I think the fight might change patterns in terms of feeling each other out and being edgy, then busy in spells, but I can see nothing else than me taking over from the second half.

“I don’t like making predictions and I see a Josh Warrington win, but I am going to go for a stoppage this time. If I see it I am going to go for it.

“Coming out of the Selby fight, if I was going to criticise myself or kick myself, I wish I had just pressed on. This time around, if I see the opportunity I am just going to go for it.”

IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington takes on former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena on December 22nd live on BT Sport Box Office.

JJ Metcalf will defend his WBC International super-welterweight title against Liam Williams in support of the main event, while Mark Heffron will challenge for the British middleweight title.Belfast’s blue chip featherweight prospect Michael Conlan (9-0) also features on the bill along with world flyweight title challenger Paddy Barnes (5-1) and unbeaten Light Heavyweight contender Steven Ward (9-0).

Ricky Burns and Scott Cardle meet on the undercard of Tony Bellew’s undisputed Cruiserweight clash with Oleksandr Uysk at Manchester Arena on Saturday November 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US.

Burns created history in Scotland in May 2016 when he defeated Michele Di Rocco in Glasgow to land the WBA World Super-Lightweight title and become the country’s first ever three-weight World Champion.

The Coatbridge star successfully defended the crown against tough mandatory Kiryl Relikh in Glasgow in October 2016 before falling short in a unification battle with IBF king Julius Indongo in April.He won his 50th fight as a professional in June, stopping Croat Ivan Njegac after four rounds and returns to the scene of his points loss to Anthony Crolla determined to prove he still has big ambitions at World level.

“There’s some big fights to be made in the Lightweight division and a win here in front of such a large PPV audience will put me further in the frame for next year,” said Burns.

“The Manchester crowd last time out was fantastic and obviously Anthony Crolla is fighting on the bill, I’d still love that rematch down the line but first and foremost Scotty has my attention for next Saturday.

“I get on really well with Scotty and his family. They have helped me out with some sparring down the years but this is strictly business. It was a shame my gym mate Joe Cordina pulled out through injury but this is boxing. I’ll shake Scotty’s hand before and after the fight.

“Training has been going well, I’m always keeping busy in the gym waiting for the phone to ring. It doesn’t matter who I fight, I train for every fight the same so the short notice doesn’t change anything drastically in terms of our preparation. These domestic dustups get the fans excited and it’s a great show to be fighting on.”

“This is a huge fight to get me back to where I want to be,” said Cardle. “Ricky is a former three-weight World Champion and a Scottish great, a win against him would hopefully set up some even bigger fights down the line. “This is a massive occasion for me, I’ve got the opportunity and now it’s time for me to deliver. I can’t turn fights like this down, especially at this stage of my career. The short notice isn’t ideal but I’ve trained hard for the Cordina fight and I’ll be ready next Saturday.

“Ricky is a very physical fighter, he’s got a great jab and he’s been in there with the best. He’s one of the toughest men in the sport and I’m prepared to go the distance with him. I’ll need to stay smart and use my speed on the night.

“I’m getting to a certain age now and I want to be able to look back on my career and be happy with what I’ve achieved. I want to reach World level before I call it a day and a win over a name like Burns could be the start of something big”

JOSH
WARRINGTON BELIEVES Carl Frampton might just be underestimating the
size of the task ahead in attempting to prize him from his IBF world
featherweight title at the Manchester Arena on December 22.

Frampton, a two-weight world champion himself, publicly declared his
prediction that he felt Lee Selby was a shoe-in to retain his belt
before he took on mandatory challenger Warrington at Elland Road in May.

The Belfast man made no secret of the fact he expected to be facing
Selby in his attempt to add another world title belt to his collection.

Warrington spectacularly upset the odds in Leeds and again finds himself
ranked second in the betting ahead of his first title defence that will
be shown live on BT Sport Box Office.

The 27-year-old is aiming to ensure that history repeats itself and he
confounds the odds against an opponent who might just consider the
spoils are there for the taking.

“Possibly he does,” the 27-0 champion told BT Sport. “In his head he
thought he would be fighting Selby in his next fight and he never
thought he would be fighting me. I think that kind of makes me a bit of a
wildcard because nobody expected me to bring that performance – so what
am I going to bring against Carl?

“He will still have a few questions. He doesn’t know how good I am,
no-one does. Obviously it is in my head what I am capable of doing and I
think being tested against these boys is when I show what I can do.

“Up until then I was always just going about business and beat who was
put in front of me. Now it is to show what I am really capable of.

“In my head I have got nothing to lose because I am still written off.
Once again the bookies have got him as favourite and I am the champion.

“He is a massive favourite and that just gives me a greater desire and more fire in the belly.”

IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington takes on
former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena
on December 22nd live on BT Sport Box Office. JJ Metcalf will defend his
WBC International super-welterweight title against Liam Williams in
support of the main event, while Mark Heffron will challenge for the
British middleweight title.

Belfast’s blue chip featherweight prospect Michael Conlan
(9-0) also features on the bill along with world flyweight title
challenger Paddy Barnes (5-1) and unbeaten Light Heavyweight contender
Steven Ward (9-0).

JACK
MASSEY BELIEVES that a couple of recent high profile fights in his
weight division have potentially given the cruiserweights a bad name.

The 14-0 Massey, who goes by the name of ‘One Smack’, is keen to propel
himself into the thick of things and returns to action on the mammoth
Manchester Arena card on December 22 as one of the support acts to Josh
Warrington defending his IBF world featherweight title against
two-weight world champion Carl Frampton.

Fights that have been given the big build up, such as Lawrence
Okolie-Isaac Chamberlain and Matty Askin-Okolie, have failed to live up
to their billing and Massey fears the boxing public could be turned off
from the 200 pounders.

“Yeah, a little bit, I definitely think so myself,” considered the
25-year-old. “You don’t want people to watch fights like that and think
it is what boxing is about. Matty Askin is a talent, so is Chamberlain,
but Okolie is just awkward and holds a lot.

“He made them look mediocre as well as himself,” added Jack, who says
the hype around these fights was not justified in the ring.

“No, not really, but there is a lot of talent in the cruiserweight
division at the moment with a lot of good up and coming young fighters.

“If you saw the Okolie-Askin fight it was a bit of a stinker and you
don’t want people to watch that and think that is what the
cruiserweights are about. You want people to be interested in the
cruiserweight division and see some good fights.”

Massey views himself as the man to restore the sparkle to the division
and would willingly put himself forward to challenge Okolie. However, he
suspects he is not viewed as an ideal candidate for a voluntary defence
of a title and he will have to force the issue by earning mandatory
status.

“I definitely think it is time to step up and obviously fight for some
titles – we need a big title fight now. I feel like I am ready for that.

“My last fight – against Ian Tims – was a bit of a step up and, from
what I am hearing from my management, a lot of people don’t want to
fight me now and are ducking and diving a little bit.

“It seems like it will be harder to get a title shot unless I get into a
mandatory position. So I just need to crack on and get some good
fights, starting on December 22. I need to get cracking up the rankings
then see what we can get.

“It is a great show to be on with some top fights on it and I think my tickets are going to fly out for it.

“We’d like the Okolie fight and he’s now got the target on his back,
hasn’t he? Obviously styles make fights and it would be an awkward
fight, but we have had a look at him and seen a few things.

“He has won the British and Commonwealth so he is the one you are going
to target and we would like that fight. If not, we will go back to the
drawing board and see what is best for us in getting up the rankings.

“It doesn’t sound like Okolie will take the fight so I can’t see it happening any time soon.”

IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington takes on
former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena
on December 22nd live on BT Sport Box Office. JJ Metcalf will defend his
WBC International super-welterweight title against Liam Williams in
support of the main event, while Mark Heffron will challenge for the
British middleweight title.

Belfast’s blue chip featherweight prospect Michael Conlan
(9-0) also features on the bill along with world flyweight title
challenger Paddy Barnes (5-1) and unbeaten Light Heavyweight contender
Steven Ward (9-0).

SAM MAXWELL insists that he is ready to step up and face Britain’s best Super-Lightweights.Maxwell (9-0) aims to make it a perfect ten as a professional when he boxes on the undercard of Josh Warrington’s IBF World Featherweight title defence against Carl Frampton at Manchester Arena on December 22.

Despite his lack of professional experience Maxwell mixed with greats like Vasyl Lomachenko in the WSB lasting the five round distance in both contests against the brilliant Ukrainian.

So boxing the Best of British in the ten stone division holds no fears for the Liverpool boxer who trains in Glasgow under Danny Vaughan.

Maxwell said: “I see myself getting up there with boxers like Josh Taylor, Jack Catterall, Terry Flanagan and the rest of the division very soon.

“I’m ready now. I was 30 years-old last week and if I’m not ready now I will never be ready. I will fight anyone. The better the opponent, the better I will perform and prove how good I am.

“There are so many good British boxers at ten stone, but without doubt the toughest one to face would be Taylor.

“He is world class and definitely the top one. Flanagan is also at world level.

“People are writing him off, but I think he is very good and last weekend he just ran into a quality operator, Regis Prograis.

“There are a lot of good names, but there are different standards among them. Ohara Davies for example is decent, but didn’t look as good against Jack Catterall.

“Jack is one of those fighters who always finds a way to win. He looks special at times and then looks to just win which he does and did so comfortably against Ohara.

“I am looking to breakthrough onto that scene as early as possible next year.

“There has been some top domestic fight at Super-Lightweight recently like Jack v Ohara and Glenn Foot v Robbie Davies.

“I watched those fights and thought, ‘I’m not far off them’. It has got me and Danny excited.

“I have got the talent. All I am missing is the experience in the rounds, but I feel I am ready to step up. I am looking forward to the challenge and a big year next year.”

Maxwell is excited to be ending 2018 on a stunning BT Sport pay-per-view bill that also includes his close friend JJ Metcalf defending his WBC International Super Welterweight Title against Liam Williams.

He added: “I am going with Frampton, but I wrote Warrington off against Lee Selby, but he put on a masterclass. You can never write him off.

“The fight I’m really looking forward to on the bill is JJ against Liam.

“JJ is an old stablemate of mine and I really hope he can pull through. It is a massive fight and massive ask, but if anyone can do it he can.

“His character and willpower means it will take something special to beat him.”

IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington takes on former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena on December 22nd live on BT Sport Box Office.

JJ Metcalf (18-0) will defend his WBC International super-welterweight title against Liam Williams (18-2-1) in support of the main event, while Mark Heffron (21-0) will challenge for the British middleweight title.Belfast’s blue chip featherweight prospect Michael Conlan (9-0) also features on the bill along with world flyweight title challenger Paddy Barnes (5-1) and unbeaten Light Heavyweight contender Steven Ward (9-0). Merseyside will be represented as Liverpool Welterweight prospect Sam Maxwell (9-0) returns to action on the show along with Formby’s Heavyweight Alex Dickinson (6-0). Derbyshire’s highly touted Cruiserweight Jack ‘One Smack’ Massey (14-0) will also feature.

Anthony Crolla Training session ahead of his fight against Daud Yordan on 10/11/18 at Manchester Arena.
30th October 2018
Picture By Mark Robinson.

CROLLA: I GENUINELY BELIEVE THE BEST OF ME IS STILL TO COME‘Million Dollar’ determined to reclaim World title in 2019

Anthony Crolla says his best is still to come as he prepares to take on Daud Yordan in
a final eliminator for the WBA Lightweight World title on the undercard
of Tony Bellew’s undisputed Cruiserweight clash with Oleksandr Usyk at
Manchester Arena on November 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US.

‘Million Dollar’ returns to his second home for the first time since his
win over three-weight king Ricky Burns in 2017 and the 31-year-old is
aiming to steal the show with another memorable performance in front of a
packed-out arena.

A former World Champion, Crolla is eager to reclaim his WBA World title
currently held by pound-for-pound star Vasiliy Lomachenko, and would
welcome a huge clash with the Ukrainian in 2019, despite the prospect of
heading into that fight as a huge underdog.

“Daud Jordan is a very dangerous opponent,” said Crolla.
“He’s been in and around World Class operators for a number of years.
He’s won 38 with a lot of knockouts and lost 3. If I’m not at my best,
he’ll turn me over so I’ve got to raise my performance levels and win
this which will open the door for another World title shot.

“Joe thinks this is going to be a long, hard and brutal fight so in
sparring we’ve tried to be smart so I’m fresh for fight night. The
styles will gel and I’m sure it’ll be a great fight.

“I can’t fight on emotions and try to be the hero. It’ll come down to
pedigree but I know all in all it’s going to be tough in there. I’m
confident I’ve put in the hard work in camp which will help me be
victorious on the night.”

Crolla enjoyed a rollercoaster ride as WBA king at 135lbs, he finally
got his first shot at the title in July 2015 against Darleys Perez in
Manchester but was edged out in a controversial draw.

The pair rematched in the same venue five months later and Crolla took
his second chance out of the judges’ hands with a stunning 6th round KO
from a brutal body shot. Crolla delivered the same salvo against
dangerous mandatory challenger Ismael Barroso in in May 2016 to halt the
Venezuelan in round seven.

That win led to a keenly fought pair of unification battles with Jorge
Linares that the visitor won, but Crolla insists he can still deliver on
the World stage.

“I believe I graft as hard as anyone out there,” he added. “It’s in my
make up to be honest, I know I’m not the most talented fighter out
there, I never have been and I never will be but I know I have to make
up for it with hard work.

“My motivation every morning is my little boy, family and those who pay
money to come and watch me. It’s a World title final eliminator in my
home town; if I can’t get up for that I’m in the wrong sport. It’s a
short career, these nights don’t come around too often and when I’m out
I’ll miss them dearly.

“I’m not a young man anymore but I genuinely believe the best of me is
still to come. Joe thinks I’m boxing better than ever. All the numbers I
hit in training are on the rise. I’m nearly 32, the body comes under
stress at times but I’ve looked after myself and I’m ready to go into
the trenches again next week.”

WARRINGTON TRAINING HARDER TO ‘STICK TWO FINGERS UP’ AT DOUBTERS AGAIN

Josh
Warrington confesses he found it ‘satisfying’ when he proved wrong the
doubters who wrote off his chances of becoming world champion.

He also added that it will be the same thing again when he defeats Carl
Frampton in their BT Sport Box Office clash on December 22nd in Manchester.

After being asked if being the underdog gave him an extra edge in his
preparation’s for Frampton, Warrington responded with no hesitation;

“Yes, it’s making me train harder and I want to turn around and stick
two fingers up, it was sweetly satisfying after the last fight.”

In his previous fight, domestic rival Lee Selby was a clear favourite heading into the contest against Josh Warrington.

But the Leeds underdog re-wrote the script and stunned the boxing world
by out-boxing Selby to a shock victory, claiming the IBF world
featherweight title in the process.

“I don’t want to be too cocky… but when all them haters, especially on social media, were writing me off saying ‘Warrington’s
going to get schooled! He’s going to get his head boxed off! He’s going
to get knocked out unconscious on the floor!

“…to be able to after the fight, scroll through my social media when I got home, my world title sat there, cup of tea… you were saying?!” joked the IBF world champion.

He continued: “I think it is nice to turn around, especially when you’re
doubted, it wasn’t that a few doubted me, the whole country doubted me
who took interest in that fight. Nobody was giving me a round never mind
the fight, and the way I went about it, it was a bit sweeter.

“… and I feel like it will be the same with this one [against Frampton].”

IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington takes on
former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena
on December 22nd live on BT Sport Box Office. JJ Metcalf will defend his
WBC International super-welterweight title against Liam Williams in
support of the main event, while Mark Heffron will challenge for the
British middleweight title.

Belfast’s blue chip featherweight prospect Michael Conlan
(9-0) also features on the bill along with world flyweight title
challenger Paddy Barnes (5-1) and unbeaten Light Heavyweight contender
Steven Ward (9-0). Merseyside will be represented as Liverpool’s 9-0
Welterweight prospect Sam Maxwell returns to action on the show along
with Formby’s 6-0 Heavyweight Alex Dickinson. Derbyshire’s highly touted
Cruiserweight Jack ‘One Smack’ Massey will also feature.